Sports
Jalen Brunson drops 55 as Knicks slide by Wizards in OT
Dec 28, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) shoots the ball as Washington Wizards forward Alexandre Sarr (20) defends in the first quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Jalen Brunson scored nine of his season-high 55 points in overtime and the visiting New York Knicks extended their season-best winning streak to seven games, beating the Washington Wizards 136-132 on Saturday.
Brunson hit two foul shots in overtime to put the Knicks ahead 134-131 with 4.2 seconds left. Malcolm Brogdon made 1 of 2 free throws on the other end before Josh Hart’s two foul shots sealed the victory for New York.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 30 points and 14 rebounds for the Knicks, who rallied from an eight-point deficit that they faced at the start of the fourth quarter. Mikal Bridges scored 21 points, and Hart finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.
The Wizards led 119-114 with 1:07 left in regulation before Brunson converted a three-point play. After Washington missed a pair of field-goal attempts, Brunson’s floater tied the game at 119 with 11.8 seconds remaining.
The contest went to overtime after Bilal Coulibaly’s jumper fell short on Washington’s final possession of the fourth quarter and Towns missed a buzzer-beater at the basket.
Justin Champagnie led Washington with a career-high 31 points to go along with 10 rebounds for his second career double-double. Brogdon scored 22 points, Coulibaly had 18, Carlton Carrington added 17 and Kyshawn George posted 13.
New York has won 17 of its past 21 games overall, including 11 of 13 this month.
The Knicks also improved to 12-6 away from home and have seven straight road wins.
Washington had eight players score in the opening quarter and held a 33-32 advantage at the end of the period.
The teams entered the break knotted at 60 following a back-and-forth second quarter that featured six ties and 14 lead changes.
Five players scored at least seven points in the first half for the Wizards, while Towns led the Knicks with 16 points.
Washington led 98-90 at the end of the third quarter after scoring 38 points on 71.4 percent shooting. Brunson scored 19 of the Knicks’ 30 points in the frame.
The Knicks scored eight of the first 10 points of the fourth quarter and moved ahead 103-102 on Towns’ trey with 7:54 remaining.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Iran 'fully prepared' to participate in World Cup
Dec 5, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Shaquille O’Neal draws the card of Iran for Group G during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images Despite the ongoing conflict at home, the Iran men’s national soccer team is “fully prepared” to participate in the World Cup this summer, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said Wednesday, Al Jazeera reported.
The team’s involvement was called into question after the United States and Israel began air attacks on Iran in February. The World Cup will be co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada, but all of Iran’s group-stage games are scheduled to be in the United States.
Mohajerani reported that the Iranian Ministry of Youth and Sports has handled the logistics involved in having the soccer team play in the U.S.
Last month, Iran sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said on state television, “Considering that this corrupt regime (in the U.S.) has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup. Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist.”
The next day, President Donald Trump posted on social media, “The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”
FIFA subsequently refused a request from Iran to have its Group G matches moved to Mexico. Iran is due to play New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, both in Inglewood, Calif., then Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who otherwise has closely allied himself with Trump, said last week, “The Iranian team is coming, for sure. Yes. We hope that by then of course the situation will be a peaceful situation. That would definitely help. But Iran has to come.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mets' Francisco Lindor exits game due to calf injury
Apr 22, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) reacts after his RBI infield single against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor exited New York’s Wednesday game against the visiting Minnesota Twins after the fourth inning due to left calf tightness.
Lindor, who was on first base following a single, did not appear to be running at full speed as he circled the diamond and scored on Francisco Alvarez’s double. The 32-year-old grimaced while rounding third and remained on the ground for a few seconds after sliding in ahead of Victor Caratini’s tag to give the Mets — who have lost 12 straight — a 2-1 lead.
Lindor was injured the same day Juan Soto returned from a 15-game absence caused by a strained right calf. The Mets won their first three games after Soto was injured April 3 before beginning their losing streak.
Lindor has missed just 15 games total since his most recent IL stint, in 2021, when he missed more than five weeks due to a right oblique strain.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Offensive eruption helps Orlando City take down Charlotte FC
Apr 22, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City SC defender Zakaria Taifi (19) celebrates a goal by midfielder Luis Otavio (5) against Charlotte FC in the first half at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Martin Ojeda scored his third and fourth goals of the season early in the second half to help Orlando City to a 4-1 victory over visiting Charlotte FC on Wednesday night.
Luis Otavio added his first career MLS goal early and Ignacio Gomez added his first late for Orlando (2-6-1, 7 points), which had scored only six times before Wednesday’s victory.
The 20-year-old Gomez was making only his second MLS appearance, playing on a short-term loan from Orlando’s MLS NEXT Pro reserve team.
The Lions also continued their recent defensive improvement, allowing only one goal in each of their last three matches after conceding 23 in their first six.
Morrison Agyemang’s header pulled Charlotte (4-3-2, 14 points) level late in the first half in their second of three consecutive away matches.
Charlotte conceded three or more goals for only a second time this season, the first coming in a 3-0 loss at the LA Galaxy in their second match of the campaign.
Ojeda’s multi-goal performance was his first since a brace in last season’s 3-2 win over Nashville on Sept. 20, the final two tallies of a 16-goal campaign.
Wednesday’s tallies came 12 minutes apart, with the first arriving in the 49th minute.
As Orlando worked the ball down the left flank, Ojeda drifted into space in front of Charlotte’s back line, which appeared to lose sight of him.
Eventually, the ball came to Justin Ellis, who drew multiple defenders on the left side of the penalty area, then dropped a pass to Ojeda near the penalty arc.
Ojeda hit it with his left foot, guiding his finish beyond Kristijan Kahlina’s dive and inside the right post.
His second came from a free kick earned when Zakaria Taifi absorbed Harry Tofolo’s foul above the right side of the penalty area.
Charlotte set up a three-man defensive wall. But Ojeda was able to curl a low, left-footed shot around it and into the bottom right corner.
This time, the lunging Kahlina reached it, but without enough power to push it clear of danger.
–Field Level Media
Iran 'fully prepared' to participate in World Cup
Mets' Francisco Lindor exits game due to calf injury
